Chapter 8

Sawyer

Monday 9.27am.

The second my reminder goes off, I find the nearest rest stop and pull my truck off the road.

When I check the time again it’s just past nine-thirty and I’m smothering yawns.

I grab my now cold coffee and grimace at my reflection in the mirror. I need a shower a shave and a few hours of sleep before I go into the office.

Working on my own laptop until late and waking at 4am with a hard cock and images of Marlene wet and naked in the shower, I decided hanging around Landers Island knowing she’d be driving in, was too tempting.

Leaving her was hard enough the first time, I don’t think I could do it a second.

I need to solve this for her. I need to figure it all out. And as much as I want to stay, I need to go home.

My lip curls as my phone lights up and I see her name on my screen. I pick it up immediately and catch the sound of seagulls before I say hello. “Hey. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

I smile. “No. You’re right on schedule. Did you talk to Liz?”

Her voice comes out breathy. “I couldn’t get hold of her. I sent her a text letting her know to expect you and that you’d need access to my PO Box. I’ll call her again shortly. Oh, and my phone is being installed this afternoon. Kyle pulled some strings for me.”

I tap my finger on the dash, jaw working furiously at the mention of Kyle. I need to do a little digging about the ever so helpful Kyle Landers. “You have the gun I gave you?”

She sighs. “Yes…”

At least she’s taking me seriously. “Good to hear it.”

When she doesn’t reply and the silence stretches on, I have to stop myself from saying something I shouldn’t.

She puts me out of my misery by sighing wearily. “I better let you get back to what you were doing. A pod of Fin whales has been spotted in the harbor. I’m going to see if I can get out on a boat so I can go take photos.”

At the mention of photos, my gut twists into painful knots. More for what I’m missing out on. “You using your film camera? I’d love to see what you get.”

“Not for this. I use digital so I can sell the prints. If I get any good ones I’ll send them to you via email. Do I have your personal email address or work?”

I smile at the offer and the not so subtle attempt to get information. “That’s my personal.”

I’m sure I catch a tiny amount of triumph in her voice. “I better go. I’ll email you my home number when I get it.”

Without time for anything but a hasty goodbye, I press end and slouch back in my seat.

I exhale, roll my shoulders back, down the rest of my coffee and try not to think about all the hazards Marlene is going to be facing without me.

It could be days, weeks even months before I can come back this way again. And worse than knowing that, is knowing that if she knew why I was really on Landers Island, she’d likely never trust me again.

***

Marlene.

Monday 3.47pm.

I’m sunburnt and seasick when I finally arrive back at the dock. But seeing the Fin whales and a pod of dolphins has almost erased the gaping hole I have in my chest.

The boat knocks against the side of the dock, and the weathered captain, Sean O’Reilly, gives me a grin as his crew scrambles off to tie the boat. “Looking a little green there,” he teases.

I squint at him as he waggles his bushy eyebrows. “Did better than most city slickers though. I’ll give you that.”

I snort and shake my head. “Oh please, that was rough out there, and you know it.”

He barks a laugh, his belly jiggling as he gestures to my camera. “You sleep with that thing?”

I shrug, smiling back at him as the boat jostles gently against the wooden dock. “Pretty much. Never know when I’ll need it.”

He turns, distracted, late afternoon sun catching his white flecked beard, and highlighting the crow’s feet around his eyes.

My camera is in my hand instantly and I manage a few clicks before he scowls at me. “Cut it out, missy.”

I chuckle as he makes a show of being irritated but when he offers his hand, I find him grinning like a schoolboy. “Hope you got my good side?”

I return his smile and step onto the dock, legs wobbling as I try to reintroduce my legs to land again.

I hold my nose and blow gently to help gain equilibrium and find the swaying motion starting to settle.

Sean grabs a hold of the cooler he filled with fish and walks me along to the end of the dock. “How’s the lighthouse treating you?”

My ears pop a little as I answer. “Good. I had a little storm damage to the cottage, but nothing major.”

He cocks his head at me. “Anything you need fixed? That’s a lot of work for a woman on her own.”

I know he means well, but I’m tired of hearing it. “I’m fine. I’m used to looking after myself in far worse places than Landers Island.”

He shakes his head, looking gravely concerned as we come to the end of the pier where my truck is parked. “You tested out the lantern?”

I peer alongside him. “I took a look when I first moved in. Why?”

He frowns. “Could have sworn I saw the beacon going a few months back.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t think it worked?”

He rubs his chin as we walk. “It isn’t supposed to. Wondered if maybe you’d had friends visiting.”

I scrunch up my face and immediately regret it. “I haven’t had any visitors.”

Sean looks across the street to where the stores are now all open for business. “My eyes aren’t what they used to be. Also thought I saw a boat in the cove by your beach a few months back. Asked the coast guard and they have no record of it. Must be going senile.”

I choke on a laugh. “Hardly.”

He smiles and gestures to the seafood store. “I need to drop this off.”

He pries open the lid and shives his hand into the ice. “Shame the Haddock are running small. But should do you a meal.”

When he thrusts a fish into my hands, I accept it with a smile. “Thank you. And thanks for taking me out.”

He tips his hat and pulls a pipe out of his top pocket. “Anytime. Be seeing you.”

Since I can’t carry a fish into Landers Convenience, I unlock my truck and find my own cooler to store the Haddock in while I grab a few supplies.

I’m relocking my door when my phone vibrates in my pocket. My fingers are frozen, causing me to fumble as I answer.

“It’s Liz. Sorry I missed your call. You said someone called Sawyer was going to be coming by?”

I lean my hip against the truck as I scramble for what to say and how to explain without giving myself away. “Yeah. He’s looking into a few things for me.”

Liz pauses and I can almost see her frown. “Oh, right. Is this about the letter you got?”

I swallow and stare out at the water. “It is. So give him access to everything he asks for okay?”

There’s an amount of uncertainty in her voice. “Even your proofs?”

Shit. “Um. No. If he asks tell him, I’ll show him if and when I need to. Not before.”

She’s as professional as always when she replies. “Got it. I’ll give him access to everything except your proofs. Is he a cop?”

I scratch my sunburnt nose before answering as best as I can. “He’s in security. Kurt sent him here.”

“Right. So you want me to wait until he gets here to open your mail?”

My insides twist. “Yeah. Maybe for the best.”

She starts to rattle off all the appointments and obligations I still have. But I’m not really listening until she mentions my laptop. “I can order one in and set it all up for you then Fed-Ex it to you?”

I scowl at my worn sneakers and shake my head. “That’s okay. I can take care of it.”

If she’s annoyed I don’t hear it in her voice. She sounds more disbelieving. And given my dislike of technology, she probably has good reason. “Okay. Well, let me know if you change your mind. I can talk you through setting it up.”

I switch off when she starts talking about RAM and processors and other things I don’t really care about.

My mind has started wandering places I’d rather it didn’t. Five minutes after arriving back in Landers Island, and I’m thinking about Sawyer and whether he plans to come back.

I need to keep myself distracted. Working is the best way to do that, but without a laptop, I can’t check out the photos I took, edit them or send them anywhere.

I need a computer and the only one I can borrow is located in Kyle’s store.

I glance at my watch and turn to look over my shoulder. If I want to get a few things, order a laptop online and get home for the appointment with the AT&T guy, I’ll have to get moving.

“Liz, I gotta go. I’m getting a landline put in today and I need to be home.”

“Okay. Let me know the number when you get it. Oh and your mom and Kurt both asked me to let you know they’d like a phone call.”

I grimace as I check for traffic before crossing the road. “I’ll call as soon as I can.”

It’s not a lie. But close enough to one. I have no intention of calling my mom and Kurt rates even less consideration.

But he did send Sawyer here, so I guess I should thank him even though it's ten kinds of awkward even thinking about it.

I say goodbye to Liz and shove the phone into my pocket. I get a friendly smile from an elderly man leaving as I enter Kyle’s store.

He’s busy serving behind the counter when I grab a basket and start searching for the things I’ll need.

I’m not the world’s best cook, but I’ve learned a bunch of ways to use fish, my favorite being a soup I learned how to make when I dated a crazy Scotsman.

I have most of the ingredients for smoked haddock soup at home, but I need potatoes.

The store isn’t busy, but Kyle isn’t around so I dump a basket filled with groceries on the countertop.

I wait for a minute, but when he still hasn’t appeared I decide I may as well make use of the time and use the computer he has for customers to use.

I’m about to take a seat when the door opens and the man who sold me the lighthouse, Jacob Landers enters. Dressed in Khakis and boat shoes, with a million-dollar smile and tan to match his wife’s, he smiles broadly when he sees me.

“Afternoon. Was that you out on Sean’s boat?”

I gesture to my sunburnt face. “Yup. Forgot my sunscreen.”

He laughs cordially and takes a seat beside me. “Happens to us all. Everything spic and span in the lighthouse?”

The smile drops from my face. “Everything’s fine. I was just about to get the locks changed. Thinking about tightening up security.”

He cocks his head, forehead creasing into fine lines. “Oh? I’m pretty sure they were changed just before you moved in?”

I chew my lip as I try to think. “They were? They look a little cheap.”

He nods thoughtfully. “Well, I can recommend someone to come fit a new set if you like?”

I’m about to agree when I see his wife waving at me from outside. She gestures to her husband and pulls a face. I grin back at her. “I think your wife is looking for you.”

Jacob stiffens slightly and looks over his shoulder. I’m half convinced he looks anxious for a split second making me wonder if his wife keeps him on a tight leash when the smooth smile is back in place.

He pulls a card from his pocket. “Here’s that locksmith. Just tell him I sent you. Better go.”

He hurries out of the store, without a backward glance and without purchasing anything.

I frown at him as he joins Elaine and they take off down the street together.

I put his odd behavior down to friendliness and take a seat at the desk facing the window and open the internet mail.

I spend a while browsing, trying to decide if I need to upgrade, or if I can afford it when Kyle appears beside me.

He leans over me and squints at the screen. “You’re looking for a new laptop?”

I look up at him and have to hide my frown he’s so damn nosy. “Um, yeah. Mine got broken.”

A dark look flashes across his face then disappears as he smiles brightly. “By that scruffy thug in a leather jacket?”

It takes a second for me to realize he means Sawyer. If I could get away with slapping my forehead, I’d do it.

Coming in here is like announcing Sawyer and I shacked up. With a smothered groan, I backpedal. “Yes, by Sawyer. Um, sorry, I really need to order a new one. I took some photos today and since I’m getting a landline, I can get cable internet now too.”

His smile falters ever so slightly. “Well, I’m here if you ever need me.”

My eyebrows rise as he turns crimson and splutters. “I mean, my WIFI is here if you ever need it.”

I’m not sure who’s more embarrassed by the slip, him or me, so I just smile weakly and extricate myself as gently as I know how. “That’s good to know. I better get looking for a laptop.”

Kyle doesn’t move, his mouth opens and closes, and in a horrific panic-filled moment, I recognize he’s either about to ask me on a date or ask me about why Sawyer had my laptop.

Before he can do either, I slide my hand in my pocket and grab my phone. “My phone is vibrating,” I lie.

Like a coward, I press it to my ear and mouth an apology to Kyle as I answer my fake phone call.

He looks worse than disappointed as I walk out of his store, leaving my groceries behind.

I carry on my pretend phone call, talking way too loud until I’m sure I’m out of his eye line.

Since I’m not about to give him another chance, and since there’s no one else in his store to occupy him, I decide to call Kurt on the off chance he’s around.

Relief fills me when he picks up, sounding breathless when he answers. “Babe? How are you?”

That he still calls me babe makes me cringe, but I need to get this over with. “Quit calling me that. You know I hate it. And I’m calling to say thanks for sending Sawyer to help.”

Kurt sucks in a breath of air. “What was that? Did I do something right?”

I smirk as I take a seat on one of the wooden benches along the boardwalk. “Well, he hasn’t caught the guy yet, so the jury’s still out. How did you find him anyway? He was sketchy on details.”

Kurt chuckles down the line. “Yeah, I’ll bet he was. Have to be in his line of work I guess.”

I seize my opportunity. “What is his line of work anyway? He says security.”

There’s a long pause before Kurt’s voice crackles down the line. “Security. That’s a nice spin on it.”

I hold my breath, waiting him out. But he’s strangely quiet making me even more curious. “That’s all I get? Do I have to call in some favors and find the answers for myself?”

It’s a threat, and one I could carry out, but I know Kurt, he’s dying to tell me. “Let’s just say; he’s a highly regarded specialist in what he does.”

I growl down the line. “How highly regarded?”

Kurt sounds distracted when he answers. “All I know is that he enlisted and resurfaced a few years back in India when I was there. I reminded him he owed me and he gave me his email address. He’s kind of an enigma, keeps to himself, doesn’t share personal details never has really.”

My heart starts to race as I try to concentrate on what Kurt is saying. “Anyway, he’s kind of a lone wolf, doesn’t really play by the rules. Think there were rumors he’d gone AWOL. But he’s still working for the government as far as I know, so can’t have been that.”

“Maybe he got married? Maybe he took a break?” I croak.

Kurt’s surprise is evident. “Huh? I guess. Did he tell you that?”

I can barely manage a whispered yes when Kurt sucks in a breath. “Shit, wow. I mean, not sure how that came up. You can’t have spoken to him for more than a couple hours?”

I can’t even begin to reply so I just agree.

I’m still reeling when he adds another bombshell. “He can talk most people into anything though. That’s why he’s so sought after. I figured he’d have a rough time convincing you to show him the emails, but sounds like he got what he needed from you?”

My mouth runs dry as I think of the games we played to get what he wanted. Heat rushes around my body as I find my voice. “You didn’t answer my question. He said he owed you a favor because you got him some information?”

Kurt’s voice starts to fade in and out. “Information? Oh yeah, kind of. Shit, babe, I gotta run. The cameraman’s just arrived. Listen to Steele; he knows what he’s talking about. Okay?”

I don’t even get to say goodbye or to tell him off for calling me babe again.

I’m too damn angry at Sawyer for being so mysterious. It makes figuring him out even more alluring.

Shame he’s hundreds of miles away, getting ready to talk to my assistant.

But at least that gives me time to come up with multiple ways to convince him to tell me who he really is.

And what else he’s hiding.